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Colorant

Iron Oxide (Black)

A mineral pigment used to darken and deepen the tone of foundations and tinted sunscreens, typically blended with red and yellow iron oxides for shade customization.

PigmentVisible light protectionSPF booster
✓ Safe
Comedogenic Rating
0/5
Irritation Potential
0/5

What is it?

A naturally occurring or synthetically produced mineral pigment (iron II, III oxide) used in cosmetics for its deep black-brown coloring properties, typically blended with other iron oxides for shade formulation.

Provides depth and darkness to foundation and tinted sunscreen shade ranges, allowing accurate matching for deeper skin tones while contributing to visible light protection.

Key Benefits

✦
Shade Range Completion
Essential for creating deeper foundation and tinted sunscreen shades that accurately match darker skin tones.
◈
Visible Light Protection
Contributes, alongside yellow and red iron oxides, to blocking visible light wavelengths relevant to pigmentation concerns.
✧
Chemically Stable
As an inert mineral pigment, it remains stable under sun exposure and does not cause the photosensitivity concerns associated with some organic colorants.

Suitable for

Melasma-prone skinDeeper skin tonesAll skin types

Main Actions

✓ Tinting✓ Visible light protection✓ Photoprotective
The Iron Oxide Trio

Yellow, red, and black iron oxides are almost always used together in varying ratios to create the full spectrum of tinted sunscreen and foundation shades — checking for all three on an ingredient list is a good sign of a well-formulated tinted mineral product.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Iron Oxide (Black) do for skin?
Provides depth and darkness to foundation and tinted sunscreen shade ranges, allowing accurate matching for deeper skin tones while contributing to visible light protection.
Who should use Iron Oxide (Black)?
Iron Oxide (Black) is suitable for: Melasma-prone skin, Deeper skin tones, All skin types.
Are there any warnings about Iron Oxide (Black)?
Yellow, red, and black iron oxides are almost always used together in varying ratios to create the full spectrum of tinted sunscreen and foundation shades — checking for all three on an ingredient list is a good sign of a well-formulated tinted mineral product.

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